The San Francisco Examiner from San Francisco, California • 61

It Oct. 25, 1978 S.K EXAMWER-eaetei REVIEW highlights "Tha AmiI," Soviet Hint directed by Liriisa Shepitko: ortttM by Vurl Klepikov and Srtepitko; photographed by Vladimir Ouklmov. With Boris Plotnikov, Vladimir Ooitiutihm. Analoly 8olomtain, Sergei Yakovlev and Ludmllla Pollakova. A beautiful and starkly told tala of two Russia partlsana in World War ona of wnom dlaa physically whlta tha othar dies spiritually.

At tha Four 8tar Thealar, Clamant and 23rd Avenue, through Oct. 31. Admission S3. Call 762 26S0. A sensitive Soviet war film i By Walter V.

Addlego HOPE THAT preconceptions about films from the Soviet Union won't deter audiences from seeing "The Ascent," a beautiful and humane story, sensitively directed by a woman, Larissa Shepitko, about Russian partisans in the second World War. I slander. He is tortured, but it seems now as If be can bear anything. Rybak, for his part, is willing to talk, but balks when offered a chance to Join the German secret police. He is sent to a cell housing Sotnikov and the 1 other Russian prisoners: the village headman, the woman who hid the partisans, and a girl.

Rybak argues that they can continue to work for Russia If they Join the secret police as double agents. Sotnikov will have nothing to do with such compromises. All five Russians are to be hanged in reprisal for the death of a German soldier. Rybak's seeming pragmatism, it Is gradually revealed, is simply a Way for him to rationalize saving his own skin. Meanwhile, Sotnikov seems to realize the lack of compassion in his rigid moral position, and offers to confess to the killing of the soldier in order to save his fellow prisoners.

Sotnikov's death, when it finally comes, is a glorious moment of apotheosis. The leading roles are marvelously acted by Boris Plotnikov (Sotnikov), Vladimir Gostiukhin (Rybak) and Anatoly Solonitsin (the Russian interrogator). The excellent photography was by Vladimir Chukhnov. The film won a prize at the 1977 BerUn Film Festival. The film, now at the Four Star, doesn't so much contradict the party line as ignore it.

Indeed, "The Ascent" takes the rather courageous step of showing several of its Russian characters collaborating with their German captors, which could hardly endear the film to the Soviet authorities. "The Ascent" has something of the spirit of Sofjhfnitsyn, in that it shows a purification achieved SSugh suffering, and, if not overtly Christian, it iertainly makes use of Christian imagery. Director Shepitko presents us with a series of simple and severe black-and-white images of a world hostile to nan and his ideals: a group of ill-fed partisans trajiiping through a leafless, snow-bound forest; a prraoo-camp dungeon; a gallows atop a hill. "STwo partisans, the hale and hearty Rybak and the sfpily Sotnikov, are sent foraging, visit several houses, dqjtattle with German troops, and are finally captured Boris Plotnikov plays a wounded Soviet partisan who attempts to sacrifice himself for his comrades traditions of Christian art to underline the significance ofthestorv In prison. Sotnikov is interropated by an Insidious, sunken-eved Russian collaborator who suggests that he and sent to prison with those suspected of helping them.

The sufferings of Sotnikov are excruciating to behold. By the film's end his face is as gaunt and pale as a death's head. There are moments when his face faintly glows, and other moments when a slight, unearthly music is heard, that seem to draw on the mav as well talk, since everything ends at death anyway, and that bis own memory will be blackened by INTERIORS' PARAMOUNT ift I -jVVv WORLD'S FAVORITE e2. iO-TIMI 8TORV 3I 18 FINALLY A BED-TIME 'UsANTICALLY ENJOYABIE." KM. H6 0MW.

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lit fi 2: -10 -TONIGHT- 00 1 1 ill I 4 00. 6 00. 8 uWENFtLD THEATRF Shows daily at 2:00, MKLAST CAM! OF MATH TEPRY LEVENE presants an AQUARIUS FILMS releasa Uassin's great triumph. Meuna Mercouri has never before shown such suoerb range and control as in this portrayal of 'Medea'." Ellen Burstyn matcnes Mercouri moment for "The Big Fix" i 1 f.l-j and 10 0OP.M. J.Yi!''j Barg.Mdt5.Wecf.

1 Sat. Sunday I til 5PM SI. 50 6:00,8:00,10:00 1 KXCLL'SIVE SAN FRANCISCO MI NT LOW HATfc VALIDATED PAHKiNG at the Jack Hoirt NG Bargain Matinee daily UllJ for first hour -SI. 50 7 VAN NESS and SflTTER fi73 Daily 'Boay' at 1:10, Copv'igM UAC '978 0 hi'ini 9:30. Bara.

Mati. "A GLORY HAS ARRIVED" Mitl DIHi iin tut dailv till 2PM 11.50 Penelone Qilliatt. The New Yorker Ston" San I ram ixcn Chronicle Mercouri is at her best. Burstyn's performance is quite I. "A motion picture I that is indeed unforgettable." -Stanley I ii hclhauni San I ranciM-n aminer bright and beautiful to delight all people i great and small!" Judith Crist GLENDA JACKSON WINNER "BEST ACTRESS" 1978 MONTREAL FILM FESTIVAL "A warm beautiful film.

Glenda Jackson has never been a profoundly moving experience." Charles Champlin, L.A. Times "Powerful, fascinating, riveting. An Oscar winning performance, filled with warmth and humor." Bona Barrett, Good Morning America "Glenda Jackson as Stevie is the most fully dimensional, accessible, vulnerable, exasperating, admirable, and downright affecting woman ever put on the screen." Arthur Knight, Hollywood Reporter Dream of Passion' is a towcrine achievement, the best film Mercouri and Dassin have made the mercurial Mercouri. who provides the fire and ice. charues this extraordinary film with its stormv emotional intensity." Rex Reed N.

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is perfection as he walks the tightrope of tragi-comedy in the great tradition of the gentleman tramp." -Judith Crist "BEST FOREIGN FILM OF THE YEAR, SERIOUS AND HILARIOUS! Director Franco Brusati reveals himself as the new giant of Italian filmmaking." Archer Winsten, Y. Post tfie tove, laughter and joy now on the screen! sm. "Beader's DtestpMMnai.nor aDavW Sussklndpnduumn HLL fill WGS VrSI. Franco Brusatl's RMftiVUL clina Hlcn lvici crcoun tjurstvn Aurcam ssV TECHNICOLOR" Ifjl Released by WORLD NORTHAL DISTRIBUTORS L-E tMi JOHN ALDERTON COLIN BLAKELY LISA HARROW BILL MAYNARD MurttolMIamTWSON ItoStWderCMCTU N'ildMaoEBKwrF010AKHTTECMIXOlOfl 'TGlBOttrUl AUDIENCES I assion oip GLENDA JACKSON st-ir. MONA WASHBOURNE ALEC McCOW'EN ntH ami I HrwhM In You'll Laugh Till Your Heart Breaks and TREVOR HOWARD The Mtn Jules Dassin with AlldlVaS VmitsillUH A Mnn tNi tiili.tiiit -Wo JV turys k.

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